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Drug Use by Americans, 12 Years and Older

The following table shows the number of Americans 12 years and older who have ever used and or currently use drugs, by year and type of drug.

Type of drug

Ever used

Current user

1979

1990

2000

2004

2007

2011

2013

1979

1990

2000

2004

2007

2011

2013

Any illicit drug1

n.a.

n.a.

38.9%

45.8%

46.1%

n.a.

48.6%

n.a.

6.3%

7.9%

8.1%

8.0%

8.7%

9.4%

Marijuana and hashish

27.9%

30.5

34.2

40.2

40.6

29.3

43.7

13.2

5.4%

4.8

6.1

5.8

13.3

7.5

Cocaine

8.6

11.2

11.2

14.2

14.5

2.3

14.3

2.6

0.9

0.5

0.8

0.8

0.5

0.6

Crack

n.a.

n.a.

2.4

3.3

3.5

n.a.

3.4

n.a.

n.a.

0.1

0.2

0.2

n.a.

0.1

Hallucinogens

8.9

7.9

11.7

14.3

13.8

n.a.

15.1

1.9

0.4

0.4

0.4

0.4

n.a.

0.5

LSD

n.a.

n.a.

8.8

9.7

9.1

n.a.

9.4

n.a.

n.a.

0.2

0.1

0.1

n.a.

0.1

PCP

n.a.

n.a.

2.6

2.8

2.5

n.a.

2.5

n.a.

n.a.

0.0

0.0

0.0

n.a.

0.0

Ecstasy

n.a.

n.a.

2.9

4.6

5.0

4.3

6.8

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

0.2

0.2

0.7

0.3

Heroin

1.3

0.8

1.2

1.3

1.5

n.a.

1.8

0.1

n.a.

0.1

0.1

0.1

n.a.

0.1

Stimulants2

n.a.

5.5

6.6

8.3

9.1

n.a.

8.3

n.a.

0.6

0.4

0.5

0.4

n.a.

0.2

Methamphetamine

n.a.

n.a.

4.0

4.9

5.3

n.a.

4.7

n.a.

n.a.

0.2

0.2

0.2

n.a.

0.2

Sedatives2

n.a.

2.8

3.2

4.1

3.4

n.a.

2.9

n.a.

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

n.a.

0.1

Tranquilizers2

n.a.

4.0

5.8

8.3

8.2

n.a.

9.0

n.a.

0.6

0.4

0.7

0.7

n.a.

0.6

NOTE: Current users are those who used drugs at least once within month prior to this study. n.a. = not available.

1. Any illicit drug indicates use at least once of marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens (including LSD and PCP), inhalants, or any prescription-type psychotherapeutic used nonmedically.

2. Nonmedical use; does not include over-the-counter drugs.

Source: U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Web: www.oas.samhsa.gov.

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